Five AI assistants to try instead of ChatGPT, from cited web search to tools built into Google and Microsoft apps.
Researched from official sources, updated today, 2 min readChatGPT is OpenAI's AI chatbot for answering questions, voice conversations, image creation, file use, research and coding. It has a free plan and paid Go, Plus and Pro tiers, with prices shown by region. This guide is for anyone who wants to compare other assistants. Facts come from official pages, with prices checked on 2026-11-01.
| Best for | Price | Platforms | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claude | Writing, research, coding and files | Free; Pro $20/month ($17 annual) | iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux, web |
| Gemini | Google services users | Free; AI Plus $4.99/month; AI Pro $19.99/month | iOS, Android, web |
| Perplexity | Web research with citations | Free; Pro $17/month | iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, web |
| Microsoft Copilot | Microsoft 365 users | Free; paid plans vary by region | iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, web |
| Le Chat (Vibe) | Mistral's assistant with web search | Free; Pro $14.99/month | iOS, Android, web |
Claude is Anthropic's assistant for conversation, research, writing, coding and working with files, with web search, projects, artifacts and connections to tools. It has apps on every major platform, including Linux.
Pick it if you do a lot of writing, research or coding.
Gemini is Google's assistant for conversation, research, writing, image creation and help with documents and photos. It can connect with Google services.
Pick it if you use Gmail, Docs and other Google apps.
Perplexity is an AI search and research assistant that answers using web information with citations, plus follow-up questions and voice input.
Pick it if you want answers you can check against sources.
Copilot helps with questions, writing, summarising files and creating images, and connects with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams. Features depend on plan and region.
Pick it if you work in Microsoft 365.
Le Chat is Mistral AI's assistant for questions, web search, creating and analysing content, and connected tools. In 2026 Mistral renamed it Vibe (formerly Le Chat), adding an agent for work and code; existing plans carried over.
Pick it if you want an assistant with web search and a Pro plan under $15 a month.
Claude is a strong all-round swap for writing, research and coding. Gemini and Copilot make most sense if you live in Google or Microsoft apps. Perplexity is best for research with sources, and Le Chat is a lower-cost option worth trying.